Studying in Plymouth

Plymouth, known as “Britain’s ocean city”, is a vibrant city with plenty of places for curious students to explore. With spectacular coastal views and a rich cultural history Plymouth perfectly combines the very best of the countryside and urban environments – ideal if you’re looking for a metropolitan university experience with a slower paced lifestyle not too far away.

Located on the south coast of Devon, the climate is usually milder than the rest of the UK, which may suit international students who don’t relish the thought of the “typical British weather”.

Whether you want attractions and activities, sports and leisure, shopping, dining, music and theatre, nightclubs and bars, or just a night at the pub, Plymouth has it all on offer.

As a coastal city there are water sports, boat tours, and fishing offered all year around so you’ll be spoilt for choice when you’re not studying and you’re looking for something to do.

There are two educational institutions to choose from if you’d like to study in Plymouth – the University of Plymouth and Plymouth Marjon University (or the University of St Mark and St John as it’s also known).

University of Plymouth

Founded in 1992 this university offers a wide range of courses, with a particular reputation for excellence in subjects such as Marine Biology, Marine Engineering, Surf Science, Shipping and Logistics, and Earth, Ocean, and Environmental Sciences.

It also opened a dental school in 2006, as a joint venture with the University of Exeter, and all courses offered have a strong clinical focus so you’ll gain hands on experience with patients right from the start.

The University of Plymouth library boasts over 500,000 books and 22,000 journals to aid you in your studies. During your downtime there are three bars on campus run by the Student Union and there are plenty of leisure options off campus due to the city’s large student population.

It’s the ninth largest university in the UK, with roughly 18,435 students, and the average number of UCAS entry points needed to be offered a place are 313.

Plymouth Marjon University (University of St Mark and St John)

Known for being a smaller university, although still offering over 70 courses, Plymouth Marjon University is ranked as the number one university for social mobility in the UK.

More than 94% of students are in employment or further education within six months of graduating and recent large investments into teaching facilities, equipment, and accommodation mean that students are getting the very best that the university has to offer.

If you’re looking for a small community feel without compromising on educational excellence then this could be the right choice of university for you.

Plymouth Marjon also works closely with the Armed Forces to offer dedicated courses including BA (Hons) Business Management for the Armed Forces and BSc (Hons) Sport Exercise and Science for the Armed Forces.

Whichever university you choose to study at, you’ll be in for an exciting time when you’re studying in Plymouth.